NHTSA Complaint #10588512 — 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55

AT APPROXIMATELY 9:00 PM ON MAY 14TH, 2014 I NOTICED STRONG FUEL ODOR SURROUNDING MY ENTIRE VEHICLE UPON EXITING THE CABIN. I HAD JUST REFUELED AND WAS STOPPING AT A GROCERY STORE ON THE WAY HOME. I DID A QUICK VISUAL AND SNIFF CHECK AROUND THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SMELL WAS STRONGEST IN THE VICINITY OF THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL ARCH. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE AND THE ODOR WAS NOTICEABLY STRONGER. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE WAS NOW AN APPROXIMATELY 2 FOOT BY 3 FOOT POOL OF GASOLINE ON THE GROUND ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE. FURTHERMORE, GASOLINE FUMES COULD NOW BE SMELLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I HAD MY WIFE MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND COULD CLEARLY SEE A TRAIL OF GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I WAS PREVIOUSLY AWARE OF THIS AS A POTENTIAL ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES BUT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THIS ON MY OWN VEHICLE UNTIL NOW. I KNEW BETTER THAN TO TOP OFF PAST THE AUTOMATIC PUMP SHUTOFF - AND I IN FACT DID NOT TOP OFF - AND THIS IS NOT A CASE OF FUEL SPRAYING OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. THERE IS A REASON THAT WOULD CAUSE SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL TO BE LEAKING FROM THESE VEHICLE'S FUEL SYSTEMS. I'VE HAD COUNTLESS CARS IN MY LIFE AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL WINDOW STICKER FOR MY VEHICLE SHOWING AN ORIGINAL COST OF CLOSE TO $90,000. TO HAVE A CONDITION WHERE FUEL IS LEAKING LIKE THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE - NOT TO MENTION POTENTIALLY DEADLY. I BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES BENZ STATES THERE IS NOT ANY DANGER OF IGNITION, BUT WHAT IF THE IGNITION SOURCE COMES FROM SOME OTHER SOURCE UNRELATED TO THE VEHICLE SUCH AS A DISCARDED CIGARETTE OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF SPARK? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DIE IN ORDER TO GET MERCEDES BENZ TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PRODUCT FLAW? *TR